Shane Foley initially passed over Fleur De Chine in the €200,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic, but he was delighted to ultimately team up with the filly in the course's most lucrative race to date.
Originally slated to ride the Jessica Harrington-trained Kinesiology, Foley found himself aboard Kirsten Rausing's filly after Kinesiology was withdrawn due to the soft ground, replacing Siobhan Routledge in the saddle.
Despite Fleur De Chine only securing her maiden victory last month on her fourth attempt, her performance in the race showcased her potential, especially given her pedigree, being related to the Group One winner Madame Chiang.
Foley took the lead well over two furlongs out, and the 9-1 shot consistently kept Galileo Dame at bay, crossing the finish line with a comfortable two and three-quarter length lead.
Harrington commented on Fleur De Chine's performance, saying, "She's proven her stamina over this distance, and she may well step up to a mile and a half in the future. We entered both horses because we preferred good ground for one (Kinesiology), while Fleur De Chine prefers softer ground."
Reflecting on Fleur De Chine's recent races, Harrington added, "We had some concerns after her Curragh run where Shane thought something might be wrong. However, her performance in Limerick was impressive, and we felt confident bringing her here, especially with some ease in the ground, which suits her style."
Despite her modest stature, Fleur De Chine's strong attitude and Foley's adept handling secured the victory. Harrington concluded, "It's a significant win, and our focus now will be on securing black type for her in future races."